title: Unpacking personalized feedback: an exploratory study of the impact of its components and the reactions it elicits among problem drinking men who have sex with men.
abstract: Personalized feedback (PF) has demonstrated effectiveness in reducing drinking. Few studies have examined its effectiveness with adult problem drinkers or its potential mediators or moderators, including developing discrepancy. This study aimed to identify potential mediators and moderators of PF provided to adult problem drinking men who have sex with men (PDMSM).
  
  
  METHODS
  An exploratory analysis of PF provided to PDMSM in the context of modified behavioral self-control therapy (N = 90). The association of individual items of PF, severity of PF, and independently rated, in-session participant reactions to PF with drinking outcomes (mean drinks per drinking day, MDDD) were examined using correlations and logistic and linear regression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant pre-post differences in MDDD emerged. Other drug risk, family risk, and having an abnormal liver enzyme test result were significantly associated with proxies for developed discrepancy in expected directions; however, no PF item or reaction to PF predicted drinking outcomes. Severity of PF was not associated with participant reactions or drinking outcome.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PF may be an effective intervention for PDMSM. Further research is needed to identify potential mediators and moderators of PF among adults.
authors.affiliation: 1Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, Inc., CASPIR, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Alexis Noel
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Kuerbis
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schaumberg
authors.forename: Christine M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hail
authors.forename: Jon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Morgenstern
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000523:psychology*; D005246:Feedback; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012044:Regression Analysis; D014743:Videotape Recording; D055815:Young Adult